{"id":191783,"date":"2025-04-29T08:57:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T12:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inrs.ca\/?p=191783"},"modified":"2025-04-29T08:57:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T12:57:49","slug":"karem-chokmani-using-geomatics-to-protect-the-land-from-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inrs.ca\/en\/news\/karem-chokmani-using-geomatics-to-protect-the-land-from-flooding\/","title":{"rendered":"Karem Chokmani: Using geomatics to protect the land from flooding\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The series \u201cTour d\u2019horizon en trois questions\u201d highlights research in all its forms and offers an informed perspective on current issues.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n \n

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What do geomatics specialists do? While this science\u2014at the intersection of geography and technology\u2014has many applications, Professor Karem Chokmani<\/a> has devoted most of his career to developing risk management tools\u2026 for floods! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His research, which combines artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, and hydrological modeling, has led to the creation of operational solutions that improve flood forecasting at various scales. As such, he has supported numerous municipalities, regions, and cities in protecting flood-prone areas\u2014a challenge that will become even more pressing with the acceleration of climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to his academic duties, Professor Chokmani serves as Co-Director of the nature and technology axis of the R\u00e9seau Inondations InterSectoriel du Qu\u00e9bec<\/a> (RIISQ). He is also the Scientific Director of both the Drone-Based Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory and the Northern and Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, based at the  Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre<\/a> of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about how geomatics applies to real-world challenges, Professor Chokmani answers our questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the main types of flood risks currently observed in Qu\u00e9bec?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Qu\u00e9bec faces a wide variety of flood risks, depending on the season, climate conditions, and the physical characteristics of each region. We generally distinguish four types of flooding: river (fluvial), pluvial, coastal, and ice-jam flooding. Our team focuses on all four, with particular attention to fluvial and ice-jam floods, which can reach significant magnitudes in Qu\u00e9bec. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fluvial floods, common in spring, are caused by rising river levels, typically fed by snowmelt and heavy rainfall. These floods affect areas such as Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie, Outaouais, and Saguenay. In contrast, pluvial floods occur in urban areas, especially during intense storms. Cities like Montr\u00e9al and Toronto have experienced such events in recent years, often due to saturated or aging sewer systems, which are difficult to model using traditional tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice jams are typically a winter phenomenon. They form when large masses of ice accumulate at a blockage point along a river, causing a rapid rise in upstream water levels. They are often compared to a \u201criver traffic jam.\u201d This phenomenon is complex, multifactorial, and difficult to predict without a detailed understanding of weather, hydrological, and topographic conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, coastal floods mainly affect the St. Lawrence estuary and gulf. They are caused by a combination of storms, high winds, and large tides, exacerbated by rising sea levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To study and prevent these risks, we\u2019ve been working closely with Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Ministry of Public Security (MSP) for over a decade. Recently, we announced that MSP analysts will now use one of our models<\/a> to monitor ice formation across the province. This collaboration between INRS and the MSP has enabled us to develop a technological solution tailored to Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s climate realities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n